C294 Anger of Napoleon III (1/2)

What is a hero? There really isn't an absolute standard. Some people are right when they say that a hero must have a lofty morality and a kind heart. They are also right when they say that.

Genghis Khan was the hero of the Mongolian. The entire grasslands praised him as a Martial Immortal, but what about in the eyes of the people of the Southern Song Dynasty? What about in the eyes of the Western Xia people? In the eyes of the Europeans?

There were also Wei Qing and Huo Que, who had ventured to Mobei during the time of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. They were of course great heroes to the Chinese nation, but what about the Huns? I don't think these people will ever fall in love with them until they are forced to flee to the west.

The so-called heroes were relative. A hero that was revered by a country and its people might even be an enemy that the other races hated, an executioner, and a homicidal maniac.

For example, Xiao Letian was a well-deserved hero in the eyes of the Ryukyu Kingdom and countless of Han Chinese who had their eyes opened wide. However, to the Qing Dynasty, the depraved scholars were much more complicated.

The world had studied China for thousands of years. They knew how large its population and territory was, and how much wealth the nation had accumulated over the long years.

More importantly, their history was far too old. There was too much experience in the history books, whether they failed or succeeded, that was all the intangible wealth that the Chinese possessed.

”This terrifying race cannot be given a chance. As long as a heroic figure can call out his arms and mobilize this tangible and intangible wealth, then this Chinese dragon will break free from the shackles of the foreign race and soar into the sky …”

”That's right, we Europeans should really thank the female Taoist, that is, the Manchu people, for their rule over the Han people. They are truly our good helpers, and it is because of their 200 years of rule that countless chains have been nailed to the dragon's body, especially their suppression of the hearts of the people. They have already cut off the soil where they can give birth to heroes …”

”This is a good opportunity that hasn't been seen in thousands of years. We Europeans must seize every minute and every second and run forward. We must pull apart the technology between us and the Chinese. We must think of every way to drain the wealth of our people. Every time we become stronger, the Chinese dragon will weaken a bit …”

”This is the root cause of my refusal to cooperate with the Chinese. We can't let them share our technology for free, and we can't let them be familiar with the military theories we've developed over hundreds of years of war. All these things that can make the Chinese strong must be strictly guarded against, and the Chinese absolutely must not get their hands on them … ”

Prince Karl shouted loudly. His noisy beard jumped along with him as well. He had to admit that his theory was indeed very marketable in Europe and was in the interests of the European powers.

But after the latest intelligence report from Frankfurt arrived, everything became ridiculous. When the prince had finished listening to the report, his eyes widened even wider than a copper bell.

”What?” Xiao Letian lost his composure? Why was it different from what the intelligence report indicated? During the battle of the Ryukyu, during the few conflicts in the Kingdom of Qing, his performance was never this weak.

Lao Maoqi shook his head: ”Others, I do not know. I am still very familiar with this Paul, in the Pudan War previously, he led the intelligence officer and sent a total of 120 pieces of important information. Not a single one was missing anything, I believe his character is good …”

Now, even William I sighed and said, ”Looks like the Chinese have indeed been castrated by the Manchuria's slave-like rule, such a woman-hearted politician can actually be called a hero?”

Bismark also let out a long sigh of regret: That's right, the three hundred soldiers were able to attack Besanthus to rescue the Prime Minister, even the eight hundred French cavalry were unable to do anything to them, and the French's casualty rate was much higher than them. If such a victory was worth crying over, then the European military experts would probably all die …

”The facts have proven that your concerns are meaningless, Your Highness. Xiao Letian can only be considered a good politician and barely qualified military expert, such a talent will help the Chinese people become wealthier and stronger, what about hegemony? ”The chances of that happening are extremely slim …”

At the end of the lunch discussion, there were three votes in favour of a deeper collaboration with the Chinese. Only Prince Karl remained against the vote.

”Don't tell me that Xiao Letian is not doing this on purpose? What if it was all a show? Isn't it true that the Chinese have a story about how to lie low and try to be brave? ” Karl was still not willing to give up his viewpoint.

”Enough, Your Highness. Please don't be so stubborn.” Xiao Letian is not an idiot, even if they were just acting, they would not be so fake. Only more than 140 people have died, and they have already cried themselves to the point of collapse.

”Listen to how those businessmen described the rebellion in China. The rebels even forced hundreds of thousands of people to attack the fortress with their bare hands. In a battle, they even caused 100,000 casualties. Politicians who walk out of this environment shouldn't be acting so childishly, right?”

Bismark was a little angry, but his tone gradually became unfriendly. He felt that Karl was not a qualified successor to the Empire, but had bore it in mind just for the conflict in the Hamburg recruit camp.

”In addition, I would also like to remind Your Highness that the Empire's foreign policy can only be decided by me. If you feel that you can conduct diplomacy by relying on bandits, then I can choose to resign!”

Iron Blood Prime Minister was mercilessly exposing his true abilities, his words were directed straight at the farce of Karl stealing the silver, and with a single sentence, Karl's face turned completely red.